In terms of its historical context, 1984 was written after World War II and was heavily influenced by the events of the war, particularly the rise of fascist regimes in Europe and the concept of totalitarianism. Orwell himself was a socialist and was deeply concerned by the rise of authoritarian governments, which he believed posed a threat to freedom and democracy.
The fright Orwell had was not without reason and that is something we can see today. In every school today we learn about every think Orwell had to experince. Everything from Hitlers Nazi reigime, to Stalin, to Mussolini etc. He saw the censorship, the propaganda. The novel takes inspiration from the tactics fascist regimes to create fear of government. There is also a lot of inspiration from the communist government-form, as the difficulty of private anything, the only example we can see is the antique shop. Everything is taught to schools as both books like 1984 and a brave new world are shown as a warning. 

In terms of its cultural context, 1984 is a product of its time and reflects the fears and anxieties of post-war society. The novel's portrayal of a dystopian society where individual freedom is suppressed and the government exercises complete control over its citizens resonates with many of the fears and concerns of the time.

Overall, 1984 is a thought-provoking novel that offers a critique of totalitarianism and serves as a warning against the dangers of government control. It remains a relevant and powerful work today, as the themes it explores continue to be relevant in the world we live in.

"If thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought," - George Orwell

 

The use of visual imagery gives the reader a sense of powerlessness. It depicts a lack of freedom and loneliness as Winson is surrounded by all the faces, but none of them speak with him or to him. 

 

George Orwell's iconic novel 1984 is an exploration of a dystopian society wherein the government rigidly controls the population though extensive surveillance of all actions. As this book was published in 1949, George Orwell could not have predicted the advances in technology such as digital cameras, facail recognition, and wearable technology that allow for modern day governments and corporations to closely monitor individuals (Tosh and Walter). Surveillance, once used to keep physical watch on people, has been amplified as everyday people are tracked through the Internet, emails, and social media. This concept of mass monitoring of citizens is a reflection of George Orwell's ideas, which demonstrates that our modern society is still subject to strict government regulation.

Tosh, John, and Alexandra Walter. George Orwell: Political Ideas in '1984'. Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.